The moment everyone left, Lorenzo dropped to his knees and knocked his forehead against the floor repeatedly. He cried, "Mr. Vazquez, I was wrong, terribly wrong. Please calm your anger."

Guillermo clasped his hands behind his back as he stood and said, "Ever since Reginald betrayed me, I stopped taking apprentices. Throughout my entire life, I have only taken on three.

"The first died young and offered nothing worth mentioning. The second was Reginald, a once-in-a-generation talent. To be hon